No brand that manufacturers releases has a wider variety of choice at Lancaster Archery Supply than the folks over at B3 Archery- they beat out everyone else when it comes to options to suit your wants and needs in the field. As of the time of writing, we stock thirteen thumb buttons, twenty index fingers, and four hinge releases. That makes for a grand total of thirty-seven releases on our online store under the name B3 Archery. Some might say that is too many of one product type but I am here today to argue that, not only is having that many choices NOT a negative, but rather that it is actively a positive for the archery industry.
Some brands limit the scope of their releases to just a few - or even one - of each type of release. They want to keep things 'simple' and maintain the supremacy of that product. That is all well and good, that is a perfectly fine goal and business decision. It certainly works. Where it can fall a little short, though, is in taking into account the wide variety of tastes and preferences for the very high number (millions?) of archers out there. Limiting your menu to a one-note dish might be great for those that like and love that one note, but maybe someone out there prefers something just a little different. That's where B3 takes center stage.
Let's look at their index finger releases first. They have seven index fingers in the entry price point ($50 to $70), eight in the mid price point ($80 to $100), three in the pro price point ($110 to $130), and two in the flagship price point ($210 to $220). That is a wide range of price point options to begin your search. Within these, there are fourteen that are single-hooks and six that are dual-jaw - there are six that are open hook and fourteen that are closed - there are five you can choose your color on - there are eleven choices for flex connectors and fifteen choices for swivel connectors. Do you see my point? Whether it's multi- vs single-sear, magnetic vs spring assisted, auto-close vs locking, travel vs tension, etc, there is something in there that is going to hit the sweet spot for what will best fit you.
If we shift gears to the increasingly popular thumb buttons, you will see a similar - though not as much as the index releases - variance in option. Here, you will find thumb buttons ranging in price from around $130 up to $310 for their newest flagship release. There are some that include adjustable tension and travel, and some that do not. There are some that have solid handles, and some that include adjustable finger pieces. There are some that allow you to change between 3- and 4-finger setups, and some that are fixed as they are. Three of them are open hook designs, the other ten are closed, and all thirteen of them operate as a single-hook. Some include lanyards, some wrist straps, and one even has an adjustable finger bed to match the shape of your fingers and your precise hold pattern - you'll never guess which one that is.
Though the pot is a bit smaller when it comes to their hinge - or back tension - releases, the adjustment and perfect fit options are still very much so prevalent. Their pricing on hinges ranges from $150 to $230, and even at the low end - the Ghost - you still get magnetic hook return and adjustable travel and click. Both of their top-of-the-line hinges are available in both aluminum and brass versions, and both come with adjustable finger attachments, micro-adjustable travel, and micro-adjustable click settings. Both come with grooved finger beds and adjustable barrels as well, to aid in repeatability and comfort when you're facing down long days on the range. One includes an enclosed first finger design, while the other incorporates the same adjustable finger bed as their flagship thumb button.
Heck, they even have a hinge that includes a padded wrist strap and flex connector - the Ranger.
As far as these new 'flagship' releases I keep referencing, let's go over them, shall we?
For this year, B3 pulled out all the stops in their pursuit of the best releases in each category. What they came up with have been excellent sellers and for good reason. The CL1 and CL1 Pro for the indexes, the Flo BT and Rectify BT for the hinges, and finally the Flo X for their thumb button.
The CL1 and CL1 Pro were designed to ensure maximum precision with every pull of the trigger. They include a hybrid-sear design, auto-cocking button, polished hook, ultra-comfortable wrist strap, body length adjustment, independent travel and tension, and the Pro model includes an interchangeable trigger with adjustable trigger angle, as well.
The Rectify BT and the Flo BT include micro-adjustable click and travel settings, auto-hook return with high-strength magnets, interchangeable and indexable finger attachments, grooved finger beds, adjustable and interchangeable thumb barrels, and come standard with high-strength Cerakote finishes for added durability and grip. The Rectify represents the closed index body style, while the Flo includes the proprietary adjustable finger bed spacing technology.
Now comes the Flo X - the ultimate in thumb button technology. It contains everything a thumb button should: customizable handle, micro-adjustable travel and tension, durable Cerakote finish, hardened and polished stainless-steel hook/internals, adjustable thumb barrel, gated hook for ease of use, the option to run it as a 3-finger or 4-finger release, grooved finger beds, positionable barrel, modular 3- and 4-finger adaptability, and of course the adjustable finger bed spacing technology found on the Flo BT. It was designed as the most comfortable, repeatable, and precise thumb release on the market - and it just might be.
Perhaps best of all when it comes to B3 Archery, everything they produce is 100% made in America.
If you're in the market for a new release, or find that other options you've had in the past just didn't quite make the cut, the click here to see all of B3's releases. I am sure you'll find something you'll like.